A device for the carbonation of liquids

Abstract

A device intended for the carbonation of liquids, to which is added safety, simplified usage and operating principles, and decreased production costs. The device is typically intended for domestic use and it is suitable for use, for example, with water-filled soft drink bottles and a 425 g refillable carbon dioxide gas cylinder. The device is attached to the liquid-filled bottle, and turning the device and the bottle like a lever against the threaded portion of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder causes carbon dioxide to flow into the liquid. The device is provided with a relief valve, and the device is not firmly attached to the carbon dioxide gas cylinder. Thus, incorrect use, e.g. dropping the device, will not result in harm to the carbon dioxide gas cylinder or to the user.

Claims

1. A hand-operated device (18) for carbonating a liquid, including at least the following parts: a retainer (4) a sliding surface (8) a valve opener (7) Characterised by a retainer (4) relative to which the device (18) is rotated (11) against the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5), as well as a sliding surface (8), which presses the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) against the retainer (4) in a rotational motion (11), and a valve opener (7), which opens the valve (6) of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) at the end of the rotational motion (11).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the retainer (4) has substantially the rotational form of the thread part of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5).

3. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the clamping force of the liquid-filled container (12) attached to the device (18) compresses the valve formed from the pin (14) and seal (15), where the carbon dioxide is allowed to flow (13) into the liquid, but not back into the device (18).

4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with one or more of the following elements: a relief valve (2), a pressure gauge, a pressure regulator.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid is a drink containing a substantial amount of water.

6. A method for carbonating liquids, characterized in that, in the said method, a carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) is placed against a retainer (4), and the device (18) is rotated (11) around the retainer (4) so that the sliding surface (8) presses the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) against the retainer (4), and the retainer (4) and sliding surface (8) guide the rotational motion (11), so that the valve opener (7) pushes open the valve (6) of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5), and carbon dioxide flows (16,13) through the device (18) and into the liquid.

Description

LIST OF DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of an embodiment of the device.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional pictorial representation of an embodiment.

[0013] Shown in the drawings (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2):

[0014] (1): steel spring

[0015] (2): relief valve equipped with a seal

[0016] (3): the seal between the carbon dioxide gas cylinder and the device

[0017] (4): retainer; the shape, on the device, of the horizontal rotational motion of the thread part of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder

[0018] (5): 425 g refillable carbon dioxide gas cylinder

[0019] (6): needle valve on the carbon dioxide gas cylinder

[0020] (7): the valve opener, a round pin on the device that opens the valve on the carbon dioxide gas cylinder

[0021] (8): sliding surface

[0022] (9): a small channel from the stem of the pin that opens the carbon dioxide gas cylinder, which channel constricts the carbon dioxide, making it flow at a safe rate

[0023] (10): a small channel from the central chamber, which constricts the carbon dioxide, making it flow at a safe rate

[0024] (11): the movement opening the carbon dioxide gas cylinder

[0025] (12): 1.5 litre soft drink bottle, filled with cold water

[0026] (13): carbon dioxide flows into the liquid

[0027] (14): pin, the shape of which causes the carbon dioxide to diffuse

[0028] (15): circular sealing plate, e.g. a silicon disk, with a central hole

[0029] (16): carbon dioxide emerging from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder

[0030] (17): cavity in the centre of the device, central chamber

[0031] (18): device

[0032] (19): perforated spring holder

[0033] (20): flow of carbon dioxide under positive pressure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment of the invention, but not all of them. The invention may thus be implemented in many different ways and should not be understood as being restricted to the embodiments set forth here. Although the specification may in several places in the text refer to a(n), one, or some embodiment(s), this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same embodiment/the same embodiments or that a particular feature only applies to any single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0035] The following shows one embodiment of the invention with the aid of images (FIGS. 1 and 2). The device (18) is rotated onto a liquid filled bottle (12), for example a 1.5 litre soft drink bottle, filled with cold water. Using the bottle (12) as a handle, the device (18) is first attached at an angle onto the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5), for example a 425 g refillable carbon dioxide gas cylinder. The bottle (12), and thus also the device (18), are turned in the direction of the arrow (11) until carbon dioxide is seen bubbling into the liquid. The form of the horizontal rotational motion of the threaded portion of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5), the retainer (4), is modelled and shaped on the device (18). When the device (18) is rotated with the retainer (4) against the threaded portion of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5), the sliding surface (8) presses the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) against the retainer (4), and the needle valve (6) of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) is guided towards the valve opener (7), and the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) is pressed against the seal (3), and the valve opener (7) opens the valve (6) on the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5). Now, the carbon dioxide flows in the direction of the arrow (16) from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5) through the channel (8) to the central chamber (17), from which it flows first in the direction of the arrow (13) into the channel (10) and from there through the valve formed by the seal (15) and pin (14) into the bottle (12) rotated into the device (18). At this stage, the bottle (12) containing the water begins to feel rock hard, and when the target pressure is reached, the relief valve (2) pressed by the spring (1) opens and carbon dioxide flows out in the direction of the arrow (20) via the perforated spring holder (19). Thus, the user understands to stop the supply of carbon dioxide and turns the bottle (12), and thus also the device (18) against the direction of the arrow (11).

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the seal (15) is integrated into the gas diffuser to reduce the size of the gas bubbles and thus enhance the dissolution of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the gas diffuser is integrated by modelling or other means into the pin (14) to reduce the size of the gas bubbles and thus enhance the dissolution of carbon dioxide in the liquid.

[0038] In one embodiment of the invention, the device (18) is provided with a pressure gauge.

[0039] In one embodiment of the invention, the device (18) is provided with a pressure regulator.

[0040] In one embodiment of the invention, the device (18) is designed to be produced from plastic by injection moulding.

[0041] In one embodiment of the invention, the device (18) is designed to be produced by a 3D printer.

[0042] In one embodiment of the invention, carbon dioxide is led from the device (18) along a flexible hose and into the liquid.

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, either the retainer (4) or the sliding surface (8) or both are separate parts at least partly moveable, either under control or freely.

[0044] In one embodiment of the invention, the device (18) or the spring holder (19), provides audible notice after the relief valve (2) opens.

[0045] In one embodiment of the invention, the device (18) is placed on top of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder (5), and the device (18) is rotated against the direction of the arrow (11), so that the valve (6) on the carbon dioxide gas cylinder valve (5) opens.

[0046] It is clear to professionals in the field that as technology advances, inventive thinking can be implemented in different ways. The invention and its embodiments are not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the patent claims.